EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR UPDATE DFI has “Energy” T his issue of Deep Foundations is full of energy. There are articles on energy foundations, energetic volunteers and staff planning and executing successful deep foundation technical events, committees using their energy and knowledge to advance the industry via research projects, and DFI and Educational Trust board members exerting their energy and enthusiasm to provide new programs for industry members of all ages. Look up the word energy in the dictionary. The definitions include: “capacity or tendency for intense activity,” “available power,” “intensity or vitality of action or expression,” “vigorous or intense action,” and “the capacity of a body or system to do work.” Synonyms include “activity,” “drive,” “effectiveness,” “efficiency,” “initiative,” “stamina,” “strength” and “vitality.” All these terms come to mind when I think of the work done in the deep foundation industry; especially by actively involved DFI members. I am fortunate to be surrounded by people who take initiative and effectively and efficiently accomplish great things by sharing their strengths and having the stamina and drive to give their time and expertise via DFI programs. It’s energizing. In this issue you can read about the workshop in Switzerland on geothermal energy foundations/piles on p. 63 and projects where these systems have been implemented (p. 69 and 75). The workshop also prompted a dedicated DFI Journal on these pile systems (p. 28 for details). DFI has already held three very successful events this year thanks to the energetic volunteer technical committees, regional committees and general members who had the initiative to lead these events assisted by DFI staff members — the February Student Day in Chicago reported on in the May/June 2013 issue, the Micropile and Anchored Earth Retention Seminar in March in Salt Lake City, Utah, co-sponsored by ADSC (see p.64) and our recent SuperPile Conference in Minneapolis (read more on p. 19). Upcoming events include seminars on Helical Piles and Slurry Walls in June; Drilled Shafts and Marine Foundations this summer; our annual con- ference in Phoenix at the end of September; Soil Mixing in October; ACIP Piles and Driven Piles in Nov- ember, plus collabor- ative events in Mexico City, Mexico; Mumbai, India; Miami, Florida; and Stockholm, Sweden over the next 12 months (see our calendar of events on p. 98). DFI ’s t e chni c a l Theresa Rappaport Executive Director [email protected] Be energized. Attend a DFI event, join a committee, write a magazine article or journal paper and bring your energy to the table. committees’ energy continues to drive our organization, bringing the latest state-of-the-art information to DFI members. Thanks to the funding provided by DFI’s Board of Trustees via the Committee Project Fund several committees are con- ducting vital research. An example is the Helical Piles and Tiebacks Committee producing a practice synthesis to be published in the DFI Journal that needs your input to provide information via a Save the Date survey (see p. 7). Our Educa- tional Trust is breaking new ground with an initiative to provide assistance and encouragement to women to enroll and remain in engineering programs (see p. 41). And in our next issue learn more about the DFI Younger Member Council whereby mem- bers under 35 will be nominated to serve and formulate programs developed by younger members for younger members — an idea brainstormed at this year’s winter planning meeting by DFI board members and com- mittee chairs. As you can see, there is no shortage of energy at DFI, so don’t miss out. Be energized. Attend a DFI event, join a committee, write a magazine article or journal paper and bring your energy to the table. November 14-15, 2013 2nd International Conference on Deep Foundations, Mexico City, Mexico Presented by the Mexican Geotechnical Engineering Society and DFI DEEP FOUNDATIONS • JULY/AUG 2013 • 9 E
